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Rep. Kenny Cox, D-Natchitoches, a military veteran and member of the House Health and Welfare Committee, made a passionate plea in favor of the bill for veterans suffering from PTSD, among them his son.

"I am a veteran, I have fought and I have seen suffering," Cox said. "(War) is something you can't fathom. Give our service members this opportunity. They fought for you."

The committee voted 8-4 to send the bill favorably to the full House after an amendment was approved removing the option to inhale the drug as a vapor. Current law only allows medical marijuana to be taken as a pill or oil.

Another measure, House Bill 627 by Rep. Rodney Lyons, D-Harvey, would add autism to the existing condition and already received a favorable committee vote.

It was approved overwhelmingly Thursday by the full House with a 71-21 vote and heads to the Senate.

Medical marijuana may actually finally become available to Louisiana patients this year after an initial bill legalizing it was passed 40 years ago but never implemented.

A 2016 law paved the way for implementation.

The LSU and Southern University agricultural centers have selected two companies to cultivate and produce medical pot and the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy is expected to choose distributing pharmacies at its April 18 meeting.